Telangana fast becoming a role model for growth: Guv

Hyderabad: Governor ESL Narasimhan on Friday said Telangana was moving ahead, living up to the expectations of people, fulfilling their desires and becoming a role model state to others in the country. “I am confident that given this pace of progress, we would soon reach the destination of Bangaru Telangana,” the Governor said while delivering his address from the Parade Grounds on the occasion of 69th Republic Day on Friday.

The Governor said the government was implementing a plethora of programmes and schemes for the welfare of poor, development of agriculture sector, strengthening of the rural economy, infrastructure development and for the overall industrial growth. 

“The Telangana government is working seriously on laying the foundation of basic human values and overall welfare of all sections of the people particularly the downtrodden,” the Governor said. 

Listing out the welfare schemes introduced by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s government, Narasimhan said Rs 40,000 crore is being spent alone on people’s welfare annually.  With the constant efforts by the government, the GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) is pegged at 18 per cent till December. 

The GSDP rate stood at 13.9 per cent in 2016-17 on current prices as against the national average of 11 per cent. The IT industry also registered 12 per cent growth in the exports as the industry spread to two-tier cities like Warangal and Karimnagar. 

Stating that the government is committed to promote agriculture as a profitable profession, Narasimhan said the government will introduce separate budget for Agriculture from 2018-19 financial year. A multi-pronged strategy is being planned to get minimum support price to farmers. Crop colonies will be formed so that farmers will derive the best benefit from the parcel of land.

The government is making all-out attempts to provide water in the irrigation sector for one crore acres. With a budgetary allocation of Rs 25,000 crore every year, irrigation projects like Devadula, Bhima, Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu and Koil Sagar are being put on a fast track. 

To optimize water utilization out of its share in the rivers, the state government launched irrigation projects such as Kaleshwaram, Sri Sitarama Sagar on Godavari; Palamur Lift Irrigation Scheme on Krishna at a cost of Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

“On the power front, Telangana achieved tremendous results. At the time of the state’s formation, the captive power generation was 6,574 MW. Today, 14,845 MW power is available in the state. 

Power plants are being constructed to achieve the target of 28,000 MW of power generation and make the state power surplus, the Governor said. Along with KCR, Assembly Speaker S Madhusudhana Chary, ministers, Chief Secretary SP Singh, DGP M Mahendar Reddy and others were present.